Northwestern University biomedical engineer Phillip B. Messersmith already has developed a material that mimics the strength of the bonds; now he has produced a versatile coating method that mimics the mussels’ ability to attach to a wide variety of objects.

Messersmith and his research team, in a study to be published in the Oct. 19 issue of the journal Science, report that a broad variety of materials can be coated and functionalized through the application of a surface layer of polydopamine.

Potential applications of the simple and inexpensive method include flexible electronics, such as bendable and flexible displays, biosensors, medical devices, marine anti-fouling coatings, and water processing and treatment, such as removing heavy metals from contaminated water.

Key to the coating method is the small molecule dopamine, commonly known as a neurotransmitter. Dopamine, it turns out, is a good mimic of the essential components of mussel adhesive proteins, and the researchers use it as a building block for polymer coatings. (Dopamine itself is not found in mussels.) So, like a mussel, Messersmith’s coating sticks to anything.

“This is an astonishingly simple and versatile approach to functional surface modification of materials,” said Messersmith, professor of biomedical engineering at Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, who led the research. “We dissolve dopamine, which we buy at low cost, in a beaker of water exposed to air. We adjust the water’s pH to marine pH, about 8.5, put in an object and several hours later it’s coated with a thin film of polydopamine. That’s it.”

Solid objects of any size and shape can be immersed in the solution. (The dopamine solution is very dilute — only two milligrams of dopamine per one milliliter of water.) At marine pH, there are chemical changes in the dopamine molecule that result in polymerization of the molecules together to form a polymer, polydopamine, which coats the object. The polymer is fairly similar to what is found in the mussel adhesive protein.

And to make things more interesting, the polydopamine coating, in turn, provides a very chemically reactive surface onto which the researchers can deposit a second coating. And because the surface is so reactive in so many different ways, a wide variety of second coatings can be applied.

“We take advantage of that reactivity to apply the second layer,” said Messersmith. “As a simple example, I could put an iPod in the dopamine solution, and a thin polydopamine coating would form. Then I could take it out and put it in a metal salt solution and form a coating of copper or silver.”

This second coating, depending on what it is, promises to take researchers and industry in multiple directions as far as applications go. In addition to cladding objects with metal coatings, this includes inhibiting biofouling of materials (such as for medical devices), engineering surfaces to support biospecific interactions with cells (such as for culture and expansion of stem cells) and applying self-assembled monolayers to nonmetal surfaces (such as for biosensors).

Messersmith and his colleagues tested the two-step process on 25 different substrate materials (but not an iPod) with a wide range of characteristics representing all major classes of materials, from hydrophobic to hydrophilic, from inorganic to organic, as well as the traditionally difficult material Teflon, all with positive results. They then demonstrated deposition of metal and organic coatings and self-assembled monolayers onto the polydopamine coating.

“Existing methods for modifying material surfaces are fairly restricted to specific materials — what works well on glass would not work well on gold,” said Messersmith. “Our method is a much more general strategy for a variety of surfaces. We haven’t found a material to which we can’t apply polydopamine.”

###

In addition to Messersmith, other authors of the paper, titled “Mussel-Inspired Surface Chemistry for Multifunctional Coatings,” are Haeshin Lee (lead author) and Shara M. Dellatore, both graduate students, and William M. Miller, professor of chemical and biological engineering, all from Northwestern.

Source: Megan Fellman

Northwestern University

This phase 3 study had four primary efficacy objectives. In results comparing unenhanced CNS MRI versus the combined unenhanced and gadobutrol-enhanced CNS MRI, statistically significant superiority (P

The British Pharmacological Society (BPS), Europe’s leading pharmacological research society, is to host its Winter Meeting in the seaside resort, attracting experts from across the world.

Running from 16 to 18 December, the three-day conference will hear the latest research tackling the global obesity problem.

Other researchers will present their work on the safety of drugs, particularly the new biopharmaceuticals developed in the wake of the Northwick Park drug-trial disaster in 2006 that left six volunteers fighting for their lives.

A third theme of the conference will examine the latest techniques using stem-cell therapies to tackle heart disease.

Just three presentations from the packed programme will be press released but newsworthy research to be presented at the Brighton conference includes:
Professor Luke O’Neill (Trinity College Dublin): ‘The IL-1 receptor / Toll-like receptor super-family: 10 years of progress’

Professor O’Neill’s talk will deal with possible new targets for drugs to treat immune and inflammatory diseases.

These targets are the Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and they have been identified as possible new targets to block in such diseases as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, atherosclerosis and multiple sclerosis.

They are also implicated in infectious diseases such as malaria and TB. TLRs have been shown to be over-active in these diseases – they go into overdrive and cause inflammation and damage.

There is a consensus emerging that inhibiting them might prove useful to treat these diseases, or, alternatively, if they are activated, they might boost the immune response to help generate new vaccines.

In his talk, Professor O’Neill will lay out the case for TLRs as excellent new targets worth exploring for these diseases where there remains a major unmet medical need.

He will also describe what to target – his team has found proteins within the Toll-like receptor pathway that might lend themselves to therapeutic manipulation.

TLRs may also prove essential in the fight against malaria, as the disease has recently shown resistance to current medication (16 Dec).
* Dr Sandra Diebold (Cancer Research UK): ‘Stimulatory nucleic acids as adjuvants for tumour immunotherapty’ (16 Dec)
* Dr Stephen Poole (National Institute for Biological Standards and Controls): ‘Cytokine Storm in the phase 1 trial of monoclonal antibody TGN1412 – better understanding the causes to improve preclinical testing of immunotherapeutics’ (16 Dec)

Dr Ben Field (Imperial College, London): ‘New targets – peripheral obesity’ (17 Dec)

Dr Nick Finer (Wellcome Clinical Research Facility, Cambridge): ‘Clinical challenges: can current drugs compete with surgery?’ (17 Dec)

Dr Christine Mummery (Leiden University Medical Centre, Netherlands): ‘Cardiomyocytes from human embryonic stem cells: towards cell-based therapy and disease models’ (18 Dec)

Dr Marisa Jaconi (Geneva University, Switzerland): ‘ Tissue-engineered strategies using biomatrices to implant stem cells into the infarcted heart’ (18 Dec)

Dr Kai C. Wollert (Hanover Medical School, Germany): ‘Bone marrow cell therapy after myocardial infarction: the BOOST experience’ (18 Dec)

###

Notes:

Additional lectures:
Professor David Back (Liverpool): ‘Optimising the management of patients with HIV infection’ (16 Dec)

Dr Andrew Kicman (Kings College London): ‘Pharmacology in sports/Olympics’ (17 Dec)

Kirk Leech / Corina Hadjiodysseos: ‘Animal research: Winning the debate’ (18 Dec)

Professor Arthur Weston (University of Manchester): Potassium channels and myo-endothelial crosstalk in blood vessels: a pharmacologist’s view’ (18 Dec)

The British Pharmacological Society, including its Clinical Pharmacology Section, is the professional association for pharmacologists in the UK and is one of the leading pharmacological societies in the world.

The history of the Society dates back to 1931 when a group of pharmacologists met in Oxford and decided to form a learned society. Since those small beginnings the Society has grown to about 2,500 members, who work in academia, industry and the health services, and many are medically qualified. The Society covers the whole spectrum of pharmacology, including the laboratory, clinical and toxicological aspects.

The aims of the Society are to promote and advance pharmacology, including clinical pharmacology, by: assisting, promoting and encouraging research and providing a forum for the presentation of pharmacology; publishing the results of research; promoting and encouraging the education and training of pharmacologists; publishing material in various forms, and promoting and arranging conferences and meetings.

For further information about the British Pharmacological Society visit: bps.ac

The BPS Winter Meeting will be held at the Hilton Brighton Metropole Hotel from Tuesday, 16 December, to Thursday, 18 December, 2008.

Click here for further information about the BPS Winter Meeting.

Source: Aeron Haworth

University of Manchester

The researchers searched through the databases of nine academic institutions worldwide, found half a million studies that took place since the 1960s, and selected the 7,000 most relevant ones.

The report, which included contributions from 21 of the world’s most renowned scientists, includes 10 key recommendations. The WCRF says that the report contains the most authoritative advice that has ever been available – advice aimed at helping people reduce their risks of developing cancer. The World Health Organization and UNICEF were among the official observers while the report was underway.

Keep Your Weight Down

One of the key recommendations is to keep your Body Mass Index (BMI) to within the 20-25 range if you want to minimize your cancer risk. The higher your levels of body fat the higher your chances are of developing cancers, especially colorectal cancer, post-menopausal breast cancer, and four others.

Panel Chair, Prof Sir Michael Marmot, said “We are recommending that people aim to be as lean as possible within the healthy range, and that they avoid weight gain throughout adulthood. This might sound difficult, but this is what the science is telling us more clearly than ever before. The fact is that putting on weight can increase your cancer risk, even if you are still within the healthy range. So the best advice for cancer prevention is to avoid weight gain, and if you are already overweight then you should aim to lose weight.”

The report also found that??

– The consumption of processed meats raises the risk of developing colorectal cancer. The panel advises people to consume processed meats “sparingly”. Processed meats include bacon and ham.

– There is compelling evidence that red meat, if more than 500grammes are consumed per week, raise the risk of developing colorectal cancer.

– Breastfeeding exclusively during the first six months protects the mother from breast cancer, as well as protecting the baby from obesity later on.

– Dietary supplements should not be used for cancer prevention.

– Evidence is becoming much more compelling that alcohol consumption rates are linked to risk of cancer rates

Professor Martin Wiseman, Report Project Director, said “This report is a real milestone in the fight against cancer, because its recommendations represent the most definitive advice on preventing cancer that has ever been available anywhere in the world. When individual studies are published, it is impossible for the public to put them into context and know how seriously they should be taking the findings. But the great thing about this report is that it does this job for them. If people follow our recommendations, they can be confident they are following the best advice possible based on all the scientific research done up to this point. These recommendations are not based on one study but are based on 7,000.”

Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Fiona Adshead, in charge of delivering on the UK Government’s obesity target, said “We will examine the findings and detail of this comprehensive and useful report. We have already made progress in tackling obesity with improved physical activity levels at school, healthier school food for children, clearer food labelling and tougher restrictions on advertising foods high in fat and sugar to children – but we know that we need to go further and faster. We want to see the positive work by the food industry continued with more and more retailers and manufacturers adopting the traffic light model to make it easier for people to make the right food choices. We are encouraging the most sedentary people to get more active through pedometer schemes and some physical activity pilots based in GP surgeries. There is no single solution to tackle obesity and it cannot be tackled by Government action alone. We will only succeed if the problem is recognized, owned and addressed at every level and every part of society. With new resources from the CSR we are planning a long-term drive for action on obesity. There is high-level cross-government commitment to tackling obesity, and we will provide the leadership, vision and sustained commitment required to help start this cultural and societal shift.”

Professor Mike Richards, UK Government’s Clinical Director for Cancer, said “The WCRF report is the most authoritative and exhaustive review done thus far on the prevention of cancer through food, nutrition and physical activity. For those of us wanting to lower our risk of developing cancer, the Report provides practical lifestyle recommendations. The Report also provides public health goals. Both will form an important element for the forthcoming Cancer Reform Strategy.”

– World Cancer Research Fund
– More information about the Report, plus the report itself

?? Christian

The resolution was sponsored by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, AFL-CIO, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, and the Alameda County (California) Central Labor Council.

In urging its support, CNA/NNOC Executive Director Rose Ann DeMoro, an AFL-CIO National Vice-President, noted the recent death of Crystal Lee Sutton, the real-life union organizer from the film Norma Rae who died last week after a long battle with cancer, exacerbated by her own three-year fight with her insurance company.

“No one should spend the last days of their life fighting with their insurance company,” said DeMoro. “We should not make choices of who gets healthcare based on their ethnicity, gender, or economic status. But I am addressing the labor movement, not Wall Street. And we all know what is the right thing – the moral thing – single-payer healthcare.”

It marks the first time in perhaps two decades that the AFL-CIO has been formally on record in support of single-payer, which would essentially expand and improve Medicare to cover all Americans. Labor unions around the country have been in the forefront of grassroots actions around the nation in support of single-payer and many labor bodies submitted resolutions to the national convention in support of an endorsement.

The resolution notes that “the experience of Medicare (and of nearly every other industrialized country) shows the most cost-effective and equitable way to provide quality healthcare is through a single-payer system. Our nation should provide a single high standard of comprehensive care for all.” It also sites specific single-payer bills, including HR 676, which has 86 cosponsors in Congress.

The vote came shortly after the convention was addressed by President Obama who repeated his call for comprehensive healthcare reform, and will accompany another AFL-CIO resolution supporting other Congressional efforts to pass comprehensive reform.

It also followed a reception hosted by CNA/NNOC and other unions Monday night featuring filmmaker Michael Moore whose previous film SiCKO presaged the current national debate with its indictment of the healthcare industry, and was on hand to premiere his latest film, Capitalism: A Love Story to the AFL-CIO convention.

In his speech Moore recalled that 65 years ago President Franklin Roosevelt proposed a second bill of rights which called for a right to universal medical care, a fight that continues. He noted that every day the healthcare industry spends over $1 million to block reform while thousands of Americans continue to lose coverage, and urged labor and community activists to keep up the fight.

Regardless of the outcome of the current healthcare legislative action, said United Steel Workers President Leo Gerard, “we’re going to continue the fight for single-payer. I’m not in favor of universal insurance, I’m in favor of universal healthcare. We are going to fight to make sure every single American gets high quality healthcare.”

“We know the patient care crisis, we see it every day,” said CNA/NNOC co-president Zenei Cortez, RN at the reception. “We will not rest until we get rid of the private insurance companies that profit off of suffering.”

Greg Junemann, president of International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers and chair of the HR 676 Labor Caucus, which has won similar endorsements from hundreds of international and local unions and state and local labor federations, noted to the convention the unity of labor in fighting for real reform. He also cited the ongoing fight of workers every day to protect the health coverage many have now.

“The labor movement needs to set our flag on the top of the mountain, and that we will not rest until we have single-payer healthcare for all,” said Junemann.

DeMoro welcomed the many international guests in the convention, and noted how most of them represent industrial nations where no one dies from lack of health coverage or goes bankrupt or loses homes due to un-payable medical bills.

“The reason? Because they have single-payer or other national healthcare systems, and because your labor movement led the fight for healthcare. Here insurance companies are at the apex of power, controlling our lives. It is not the public option we should be questioning, it is the private option and its horrendous power over our families,” DeMoro said.

“When we meet again in four years, perhaps if we adopt single-payer, we will be like all our international brothers and sisters in this room, and no longer be the richest nation in the world but just 37th in healthcare,” DeMoro said.

Source
California Nurses Association

Under the guidance of CCADS Senior Instructor/Mentor Todd A.
Franklin, DDS; a dentist from Lodi, CA., doctors were taken through a
series of study groups, lectures, a typodont program, and two
live-patient hands-on programs in San Francisco, CA. Throughout the
program, doctors were trained in smile design, preparation design,
full mouth rapid cementation, and practice management which involved
personal one-on-one training for each doctor and their staff.

With thirteen programs scheduled through 2009, CCADS is the first of
its kind offering access to full scholarships worldwide to doctors and
their staff for comprehensive training. “Led by the top clinicians
and professionals in this field, our program is unsurpassed in the
area of secondary post-graduate education, helping to develop, manage
and support some of the most prominent programs in the world,” said
Garrett Caldwell, President of The California Center of Advanced
Studies.

“We are very proud of this talented group of doctors. It is
rewarding to be able to personally train these doctors on a very
special set of skills that they can take back to their practice and
provide the best care possible. By awarding educational grants to
qualified doctors, we are raising the level of care provided. I’m
very excited to start the next series of study clubs so that we can
find the right doctors to train,” said Dr. Franklin.

On September 1, 2008, the board of the California Center for Advanced
Dental Studies announced the approval of a second phase of grants,
totaling $277,500.00, earmarked for the San Joaquin Valley based study
group. The next opportunity for doctors to join the San Joaquin
Valley Cosmetic Study Club will be Thursday November 20th. Doctors
seeking information regarding these grant opportunities are
encouraged to contact Dr. Todd Franklin or The California Center for
Advanced Dental Studies.

The California Center is focused on providing the highest quality of
continuing education in a not-for-profit setting. Building on the
success of the educational continuum, CCADS has established itself in
cities across the United States, Canada and Europe.

California Center for Advanced Dental Studies

The E.A.R.L.Y. study is an open-label, randomized, viral kinetics study
of 69 antiviral-naive chronic hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg) positive
patients, comparing the antiviral activity of BARACLUDE and adefovir. All
patients in this study had a high viral load at study entry.(1) Of the 49
patients who remained in the study at 96 weeks, 79 percent (n=23/29) of
BARACLUDE-treated patients and 50 percent (n=10/20) of adefovir-treated
patients achieved undetectable viral load.(2) The mean reduction in viral
load from baseline in patients treated with BARACLUDE was -7.82 log(10)
copies/mL and was -5.96 log(10) copies/mL in patients treated with adefovir
at week 96.

“BARACLUDE maintains considerable antiviral efficacy through two years
of treatment in this analysis,” said Nancy Leung, M.D., of the Alice Ho Miu
Ling Nethersole Hospital, Hong Kong, China. “This is important information
for health care providers to consider when evaluating initial treatment
options to suppress viral load in antiviral-naive chronic hepatitis B
patients.”

The safety profile was comparable between the treatment groups through
96 weeks. Three percent of patients receiving BARACLUDE(R) (entecavir)
(n=1) and 12 percent of patients receiving adefovir (n=5) experienced a
serious adverse event. No deaths were observed in either treatment group.
The most common adverse events occurring in greater than 10 percent of
patients in either treatment group were headache, nasopharyngitis, upper
respiratory tract infection, influenza, pyrexia, urinary tract infection,
cough, back pain, and diarrhea.

Data Results

By week 96, 22 of the 69 enrolled patients had discontinued the study.
Of these, two patients receiving adefovir discontinued due to
investigator-determined lack of treatment efficacy between the beginning of
year two dosing and the 96-week analysis. The 96-week data reported below
represent the results of the 49 patients who entered year two dosing (29
BARACLUDE-treated patients and 20 adefovir-treated patients), using the
non-completer = failure (NC=F) method of analysis.

Week 96

– BARACLUDE-treated patients achieved a mean change in viral load of
-7.82 log(10) copies/mL from baseline, and adefovir-treated patients
achieved a mean change of -5.96 log(10) copies/mL.

– 79 percent (n=23/29) of BARACLUDE-treated patients and 50 percent
(n=10/20) of adefovir-treated patients had undetectable viral load (HBV
DNA less than 300 copies/mL, measured by the polymerase chain reaction
or PCR assay).

– No BARACLUDE-treated patient (n=0/29) and 35 percent (n=7/20) of
adefovir-treated patients had viral load greater than or equal to 10^5
copies/mL.

– 97 percent (n=28/29) of BARACLUDE patients achieved ALT normalization
(ALT of less than or equal one time the upper limit of normal) compared
with 85 percent (n=17/20) of adefovir-treated patients.

– 24 percent (n=7/29) BARACLUDE-treated patients achieved HBe
seroconversion compared with 25 percent (n=5/20) adefovir-treated
patients.

– Six BARACLUDE(R) (entecavir)-treated patients and 16 adefovir-treated
patients discontinued therapy prior to week 96.

- No BARACLUDE-treated patients and one adefovir-treated patient
discontinued due to adverse events.

- No BARACLUDE-treated patients and six adefovir-treated patients
discontinued due to investigator-determined treatment failure or lack
of efficacy.

- Three BARACLUDE-treated patients and four adefovir-treated patients
met the treatment response criteria at 52 weeks and entered a 24- or
48-week off-treatment follow-up monitoring phase.

- Two BARACLUDE-treated patients and one adefovir-treated patient were
lost to follow-up, one BARACLUDE-treated patient was non-compliant,
two adefovir-treated patients withdrew consent, one adefovir-treated
patient became pregnant, and one adefovir-randomized patient was
treated with BARACLUDE.

Week 12 (primary endpoint)

– BARACLUDE-treated patients achieved a mean change in viral load of
-6.23 log(10) copies/mL from baseline, compared to adefovir-treated
patients who achieved a mean change of -4.42 log(10) copies/mL
(p < 0.0001).

– 12 percent of BARACLUDE-treated patients and 9 percent of
adefovir-treated patients had undetectable viral load (HBV DNA

Dr. Breggar is a leader in the Deloitte Consulting’s Life Sciences R&D Practice. He has almost 30 years of professional experience in life sciences and health care consulting. He is a recognized industry leader and speaker in the fields of R&D and life science product development, pharmacovigilance, technology and process optimization in R&D, computer-related system compliance and quality systems. His strong background in drug development, regulatory and industry affairs complements years of hands-on experience of analyzing pharmaceutical operations and processes for compliance with relevant regulatory authorities and doing so utilizing the most effective and pragmatic means.

Such is the case of pharmacovigilance and drug safety. Despite years of dealing with issues of adverse event management and reporting, the regulated industries still tend approach this as a data management activity rather than a quality-based function.

“This could be a result of the way the regulations have been written or a technological and process disconnect. Regardless, the industry as a whole respects the intent of pharmacovigilance/drug safety and understands that this information could and should be used in a manner to help produce safer drugs and medical products and better communicate the risks and benefits to its consumers. This is also true of the regulators,” said Breggar.

“So, what has happened along the way? Why is the public so distrustful of the industry and doubtful of the rigor of regulatory review? While at the same time believing the regulators stifle innovation and the approval of remarkable medicines? Is it time for the industry to be more diligent than vigilant? Should the industry and regulators operate on concepts of pharmacodiligence rather that pharmacovigilance?” he asked.

This lecture will be held on Thursday, May 3 in The Babbio Center, room 122, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

###

About Stevens Institute of Technology

Founded in 1870, Stevens Institute of Technology is one of the leading technological universities in the world dedicated to learning and research. Through its broad-based curricula, nurturing of creative inventiveness, and cross disciplinary research, the Institute is at the forefront of global challenges in engineering, science, and technology management. Partnerships and collaboration between, and among, business, industry, government and other universities contribute to the enriched environment of the Institute. A new model for technology commercialization in academe, known as Technogenesis®, involves external partners in launching business enterprises to create broad opportunities and shared value. Stevens offers baccalaureates, master’s and doctoral degrees in engineering, science, computer science and management, in addition to a baccalaureate degree in the humanities and liberal arts, and in business and technology. The university has a total enrollment of 1,850 undergraduate and 2,980 graduate students, and a worldwide online enrollment of 2,250, with a full-time faculty of 140. Stevens’ graduate programs have attracted international participation from China, India, Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America. Additional information may be obtained from its web page at stevens.edu/.

Contact: Stephanie Mannino

Stevens Institute of Technology

Students Fight MRSA is a grassroots effort to raise awareness about
MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, among students in
grades 3-12 through a creative web contest. MRSA has become a serious
health issue for schools across the country, and outbreaks of the infection
have resulted in widespread fear, school closures, student illness, and
even death on rare occasion.

Students may submit entries beginning October 20 in two categories —
Audio/Visual and Graphic/Written — through
studentsfightmrsa. Criteria for choosing winners include
educational value, creativity, work quality, and how interesting the
material would be to diverse audiences. Through online voting, students
will pick the winners from a group of finalists in each category. The
contest ends January 31 and winners will be announced at an awards ceremony
at The Franklin Institute.

“As a community leader committed to improving and promoting good
health, we believe everyone — from parents and grandparents, to teens and
even young children — needs to be educated about health risks, especially
an infection like MRSA which can be easily prevented through some basic
safety practices like hand washing,” said Dr. Richard Snyder, senior vice
president of Health Services for Independence Blue Cross. “The contest is
based on a simple premise that the best way to reach the YouTube Generation
is through messages created by students, for students.”

To encourage students to participate, the sponsors are offering cash
prizes totaling more than $8,000, and the opportunity for winning entries
to be used in a broad MRSA awareness campaign with schools and other
community organizations next year.

“The educational component of Students Fight MRSA shouldn’t end when we
announce the winners,” said Kate Flynn, President of the Health Care
Improvement Foundation, a non-profit health and safety organization.
“That’s why an important part of the campaign is to make some of the
winning entries available to all schools and many community groups so that
more people can learn the importance of infection prevention.”

Independence Blue Cross

Independence Blue Cross is a leading health insurer in Southeastern
Pennsylvania. IBC and its affiliates provide coverage to nearly 3.4 million
people. For 70 years, Independence Blue Cross has offered high-quality
health care coverage tailored to meet the changing needs of members,
employers, and health care professionals. Independence Blue Cross is an
independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, an
association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans. Independence
Blue Cross also works closely with the Health Care Improvement Foundation
through its sponsorship of the Partnership for Patient Care, an innovative
multi-year initiative created in 2005 designed to improve patient safety at
all hospitals in southeastern Pennsylvania.

The Health Care Improvement Foundation

The Health Care Improvement Foundation is an independent, non-profit
organization dedicated to building partnerships for better health care in
southeastern Pennsylvania, with a multi-dimensional focus on health care
safety.

The Franklin Institute

Founded in honor of America’s first scientist, Benjamin Franklin, The
Franklin Institute is a renowned and innovative leader in the field of
science and technology learning, as well as a dynamic center of activity.
It is dedicated to creating a passion for science by offering new and
exciting access to science and technology in ways that would dazzle and
delight its namesake. For more information, please visit fi.edu.

Independence Blue Cross
www2.fi.edu

The poster presentation entitled “The pyrophosphate analogue
thiophosphonoformic acid confers a favorable HIV resistance profile,” is
scheduled to be presented on March 30, 2008. The presentation will
highlight results of in vitro infectivity assays that demonstrate a unique
resistance profile for ANX-201 that suggests suppression of resistance to
nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), a commonly used class
of drugs. The potential clinical benefit of ANX-201 when used as part of
combination therapy with NRTIs in resistant HIV-infected patients will also
be discussed.

About ANX-201

ANX-201 (thiophosphonoformic acid) is a pyrophosphate analog and member
of a new class of reverse transcriptase inhibitor (RTI) for treatment of
resistant HIV-infected patients. ANX-201 has shown activity against HIV
drug-resistant clinical isolates in preclinical studies. The resistance
profile of ANX-201 is unique among approved RTIs and has been shown to
resensitize NRTI-resistant viruses. In preclinical studies, antiretroviral
activity of ANX-201 has demonstrated synergistic activity with NRTIs
suggesting potential clinical benefits of combination therapy. In other
preclinical studies, ANX-201 has shown broad-spectrum antiviral activity
against HIV-1, HIV-2, human and avian influenza viruses, and herpes simplex
viruses 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2).

About ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals

ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical research and
development company focused on commercializing proprietary product
candidates for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. The Company
seeks to improve the performance and safety of existing treatments by
addressing significant problems, such as drug metabolism and
bioavailability, excessive toxicity and treatment resistance. More
information can be found on ADVENTRX’s web site at adventrx.

Forward Looking Statement

ADVENTRX cautions you that statements included in this press release
that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking
statements that involve risks and assumptions that, if they materialize or
do not prove to be accurate, could cause ADVENTRX’s results to differ
materially from historical results or those expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are
not limited to: the validity of research results; the risk that preclinical
results are not indicative of the success of subsequent clinical trials and
that products will not perform as preclinical data suggests or as otherwise
anticipated; unexpected adverse side effects or inadequate therapeutic
efficacy of ADVENTRX’s product candidates and other uncertainties inherent
in the drug development process; the timing and success of clinical trials;
difficulties or delays in developing, testing, manufacturing, and obtaining
regulatory approval for ADVENTRX’s product candidates; the risk that
ADVENTRX will be unable to raise sufficient capital to fund the projects
necessary to meet its anticipated or stated goals and milestones; and other
risks and uncertainties more fully described in ADVENTRX’s press releases
and public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. ADVENTRX’s
public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission are available at sec.

You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date when made. ADVENTRX does not
intend to update any forward-looking statement set forth in this press
release to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date on which
it was made.

ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
adventrx